Marwan Barghouti urges Abbas to visit Gaza

BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- Jailed Fatah leader Marwan Barghouthi on Sunday called on President Mahmoud Abbas and PLO leaders to visit Gaza to demonstrate "steadfastness and resistance."

Barghouti condemned the "brutal Israeli aggression" against the Gaza Strip, describing it as an assault on all Palestinians, Arabs, Muslims, and free people of the world, a statement received by Ma'an said.

The jailed Fatah leader urged all Palestinians to take to the streets and organize popular rallies denouncing Israel's attacks on Gaza.

Arab countries, namely Jordan and Egypt, should reconsider their relations with Israel in light of the ongoing Israeli occupation and aggression, he added.

The Fatah leader has been serving a life sentence since 2004 and has been widely viewed as a contender to succeed Mahmoud Abbas as president.